Spouted dispensing box

ABSTRACT

A spouted dispensing box comprising a housing, where the housing includes a pair of broad faces, a pair of narrow faces, a base and a lid; a spout on one of the narrow faces; a funnel attached to the spout, where the funnel extends into the housing; and a closure over the spout, where the closure closes the spout against the housing. The spouted dispensing box provides a reusable cereal container that prevents mess and keeps the food fresh.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container to dispense cereal and other food stuff easily with a pour spout and freshness closure.

2. Description of Related Art

There are common problems repeatedly encountered by consumers when opening a new box of cereal. First, the cardboard usually rips as the lid is being opened. This causes problems when trying to reclose the lid during storage. The tabs are usually torn, and the lid remains open even after trying to secure the tabs together. Second, when opening the inner bag, most people tear the plastic so that it continues a line further into the bag. This causes cereal to spill into the box getting cereal stuck between the plastic and the exterior cardboard. Finally, when pouring cereal from the jaggedly ripped bag, the cereal often gets everywhere. Cereal spills from the opening in the bag very quickly, making over pouring an issue. Additionally, the cereal that escapes from the bag and into the box pours out typically not where the user intended. Some people use plastic storage bins or Tupperware® style containers to store their cereal. While these containers keep the cereal fresh, they fail to provide a way to cleanly pour the cereal.

Since most cereal boxes are a hassle to open and dispense there is a desire in the art to provide a food dispenser that easily dispenses the food, and prevents a mess in doing so. It would also be desirable in the art to provide a food dispenser that may be reusable as desired by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a spouted dispensing box to store cereal, configured to include all of the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a spouted dispensing box that stores cereal. The box includes a spout to easily guide the food into a bowl, and prevent messy spills before eating.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spouted dispensing box with a lid so that the box may be refilled after cereal completion.

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a spouted dispensing box is described comprising a housing, where the housing includes a pair of broad faces, a pair of narrow faces, a base and a lid; a spout on one of the narrow faces; a funnel attached to the spout, where the funnel extends into the housing; and a closure over the spout, where the closure closes the spout against the housing. The spouted dispensing box provides a reusable cereal container that prevents mess and keeps the food fresh.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a spouted dispensing box in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 depicts perspective view of a spouted dispensing box in an open position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a container to dispense cereal and other food stuff easily with a pour spout and freshness closure. The present invention provides a spouted dispensing box as a no mess alternative to pouring cereal. The spouted dispensing box is a heavy duty container incorporating a spout that is enclosed with a protective seal to ensure cereal remains fresh and unopened at the time of purchase. The spout eliminates the overspill and waste created with standard cereal boxes. Since the standard bag within a box method of storing cereal is bypassed, there is less waste during consumption of the cereal.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, referring to FIG. 1, a spouted dispenser box 10 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The spouted dispenser box 10 includes a housing 12. The housing may comprise a generally cubed shape with a pair of broad faces 14, a pair of narrow faces 16 a lid and a base. Alternatively, the housing 12 may be cylindrical. The housing 12 may be made from a recyclable cardboard or even recycled plastic so that it is reusable for the consumer. The lid 18 is able to open (illustrated in the open position in FIG. 2) and close atop the housing 12. The lid 18 catches with a latch 19 to secure the lid 18 against the housing 12 and maintain an airtight seal.

Along one of the narrow faces 16 is a spout 20. Over the spout 20 a closure 26 may be secured to keep the spout 20 shut when not in use. The closure 26 wraps around the spout 20 across the entire narrow face 16, resting on each broad face 14 for a secure and tight fit. The closure 26 may be made from plastic or aluminum so that the spout 20 may be repeatedly locked into place to maintain freshens within the housing 12. The closure 26 may be removed and replaced as desired by the user. The closure 26 may be a paper seal that is placed before initial use, to ensure freshness before the user opens the spout 20.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the spouted dispensing box 10 is shown in an open position. The spout 20 opens into the housing 12 to a funnel 22. The funnel 22 guides a food product within the housing 12 out through the spout 20. The spout 20 and funnel 22 may be made from plastic, cardboard, aluminum, or other similar materials. During use, the spout 20 is pulled forward and the funnel 22 catches with a lip 24 against the inside of the narrow face 16. The lid 18 is illustrated open so that the food product may be poured into the housing 12. The spouted dispensing box 10 may be used as a single use storage box that upon consumption of the inner food product, the box 10 is discarded or recycled. Alternatively, the spouted dispensing box 10 may be reusable offering a storage container that may be repeatedly used, providing a storage unit that keeps their cereals and other food products fresh.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A spouted dispensing box comprising: a. a housing, where the housing includes a pair of broad faces, a pair of narrow faces, a base and a lid; b. a spout on one of the narrow faces; c. a funnel attached to the spout, where the funnel extends into the housing; and d. a closure over the spout, where the closure closes the spout against the housing.
 2. The spouted dispensing box according to claim 1, where the funnel includes a lip, where the lip catches within the narrow face to prevent the funnel and spout from leaving the housing.
 3. The spouted dispensing box according to claim 1, where the lid moves from an open position and a closed position.
 4. The spouted dispensing box according to claim 3, where the lid includes a latch to secure the lid in the closed position.
 5. The spouted dispensing box according to claim 1, where the housing is made from recycled cardboard.
 6. The spouted dispensing box according to claim 1, where the housing is made from plastic.
 7. The spouted dispensing box according to claim 1, where the closure is paper seal.
 8. The spouted dispensing box according to claim 1, where the closure is reusable. 